Contextual home automation toggle

Abstract

A first input associated with an audio input from within a physical environment and an indication that a manual input device has been moved to a first operative position of the manual input device is received. The first input is mapped to a building automation control context. A controlled subsystem is caused to be operated in a manner associated with the first operative position and the building automation control context.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device, comprising:
 a microphone configured to receive audio input from within a physical environment in which the device is located and provide an electrical output representative of said audio input; and 
 a manual input device having at least a neutral position and a first operative position; 
 wherein the microphone output is coupled to a processor configured to:
 determine a building automation control context based at least in part on a natural language analysis of the microphone output; 
 display a color on the device representing the determined building automation control context; and 
 receive an indication that the manual input device has been moved to the first operative position and to subsequently cause a controlled subsystem to be operated in a manner associated with the first operative position and the determined building automation control context. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises the processor. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is remote from the device. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is in a building automation hub remote from the device. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the microphone output is associated with a first audible command and the building automation control context is a first building automation control context and controlled subsystem is first controlled subsystem; 
 the processor is further configured to associate second microphone output associated with second audible command with a second building automation control context; and 
 the processor is further configured to, in response to indication that the manual input device has been moved to the first operative position to cause a second controlled subsystem to be operated in a manner associated with the first operative position and the second building automation control context. 
 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the building automation control context is associated with at least one of the following controlled subsystems: lighting, shades, temperature, heating, cooling, audio, video, multimedia, entertainment, music, television, radio, streaming, movies, thermostat, fan, fireplace, garage door, fountain, and binary devices. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the building automation control context is associated with simultaneously two of the following controlled subsystems: lighting, shades, temperature, heating, cooling, audio, video, multimedia, entertainment, music, television, radio, streaming, movies, thermostat, fan, fireplace, garage door, fountain, and binary devices. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the manual input device is at least one of the following: a toggle, a push button, and a mechanical device. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the manual input device has a center position as the neutral position and is spring loaded to return to the neutral position. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the manual input device has a second operative position. 
     
     
       11. The device of  claim 10 , wherein the first operative position is a toggle-up position and the second operative position is a toggle-down position. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor receives an indication that the manual input device has been moved to the first operative position in a transient movement the manner associated with the first operative position is discrete. 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor receives an indication that the manual input device has been moved to the first operative position in a continuous movement the manner associated with the first operative position is continuous. 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises an LED (light emitting diode) ring. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 14 , wherein the LED ring:
 displays a rotational motion while the processor determines the building automation control context after the audio input is received by the microphone; 
 displays a different color representing different controlled subsystems; and 
 illuminates a percentage of 180 degrees or 360 degrees corresponding to a current level of a controlled parameter associated with a current controlled subsystem. 
 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the microphone, the manual input, and the processor fit within a gang box form factor. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a second manual input device, wherein the manual input device is a first manual input device. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controlled subsystem is hard wired to a default controlled subsystem. 
     
     
       19. A system, comprising:
 a communication interface configured to receive a first input associated with an audio input from within a physical environment and an indication that a manual input device has been moved to a first operative position of the manual input device; and 
 a processor coupled to the communication interface and configured to:
 determine a building automation control context based at least in part on a natural language analysis of the first input; 
 display a color representing the determined building automation control context; and 
 subsequently cause a controlled subsystem to be operated in a manner associated with the first operative position and the determined building automation control context. 
 
 
     
     
       20. A method, comprising:
 receiving a first input associated with an audio input from within a physical environment and an indication that a manual input device has been moved to a first operative position of the manual input device; and 
 determining a building automation control context based at least in part on a natural language analysis of the first input; 
 indicate a color representing the determined building automation control context; and 
 subsequently causing a controlled subsystem to be operated in a manner associated with the first operative position and the determined building automation control context.